Since last year in July citizens from Tombura county started to experience conflict which caused them to begin to flee into neighbouring counties like Ezo, Nzara, Yambio, Nagero, as well as other states like Bahr El Ghazal Wau and Central Equatorial. Some people also entered Central Africa and DRC for refuge. In Ezo central county alone today we have 51,483,000 IDPs being hosted here leave aside those in other payams. Living generally under plastic sheets or tukuls, they lack shelters, food, clothes, clean water, pit latrines, schools and other basic necessities.
However, WFP is trying to respond to their severe food shortage but it is not yet enough since some IDPs recently died as result of starvation. Under the mangoes we have opened some classes from nursery up to primary 5 for 624 registered children of the IDPs and the number is increasing day by day. 2 to 3 hours of learning in the morning are always good but after that the pupils become unstable due hunger.
There is serious need for school feeding, uniforms, first aid, benches, chairs, blackboards, chalks, shelters, washrooms etc. but we as a church are unable to afford. We are seriously looking for partners who are willing to provide assistance for these children indeed.
Fr. Abraham Abayo (priest in charge of the IDPs in Ezo County)
Share this article